Why Southeast Asian buyers source OVI optically variable ink from China
OVI optically variable ink has long been dominated by traditional European security-ink giants, whose pricing, payment terms and minimums are often prohibitive for smaller projects. For Chinese manufacturers — SJH Ink being a typical example — buyers in Southeast Asia usually value four things: price advantage (the same gold-to-green color shift at a China ex-works price far below European brands, negotiable per project); customization flexibility (custom color-shift combinations, shade depth and print-process tuning against your sample cards, where big European suppliers respond slowly to small-lot customization); short lead times (standard formulations stocked, routine orders ship 1-2 days after payment); and smooth communication (Shenzhen is close to Southeast Asia with a small time difference; English email and video calls work well, and samples and documents travel fast). For cigarette-pack printers, liquor-label converters and security printers in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, this is a practical route to putting banknote-grade security on product packaging.
Quotation basis: product price vs. freight & duties
When trading with a Chinese supplier, clarify what the quotation covers first. SJH Ink’s export quotations cover the product price only, excluding international freight, insurance and destination-country import duties. The reason is straightforward: overseas clearance policy, transport mode (sea/air/courier) and container costs fluctuate too much to be locked into a unit price. Common trade terms: FOB Shenzhen (goods delivered to Shenzhen port or airport; cost and risk pass to the buyer thereafter) or EXW (ex-works). Bulk pricing depends on the color-shift combination (gold-to-green, copper-green, etc.), printing process (screen/gravure/flexo/offset) and order volume — send your usage and process details for a quotation.
Sample policy: printed proofs free, production samples by weight
Verifying the effect before committing to a bulk order is standard practice. Two points to know:
- Printed proofs are free: we proof on your substrate with your target process to verify color shift, adhesion and appearance for review and internal sign-off;
- Production-grade ink samples are charged by weight: formulation-grade samples are billed by gram with a small minimum; the cost can be discussed as a credit against a later order. For sample testing, please provide substrate samples and printing parameters.
Samples, like production goods, are delivered to your nominated consolidation point inside China, with the international leg handled by your forwarder.
Minimum order & lead time
OVI optically variable ink has a minimum order of 1 kg, convenient for pilot runs and formulation verification. Routine orders of stocked color-shift combinations ship 1-2 days after payment; large volumes or custom color matching follow the production schedule. Payment is normally by T/T wire transfer; terms and settlement currency (USD/CNY) are agreed in the contract.
How logistics & customs clearance work
- After ordering, we prepare the goods and documents: packing list, proforma invoice, origin information, MSDS, batch test report, etc.;
- Goods are delivered to your nominated China-inland consolidation point or Shenzhen port/airport;
- Your forwarder arranges sea/air freight and destination clearance (Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines all have established ink import channels; some countries require MSDS and ingredient declarations for ink chemicals, so keep the shipment documents complete).
Ink is classified as a chemical product — please declare it according to local regulations at the destination; we provide full MSDS and compliance documents to support clearance.
Quality & compliance
SJH Ink was founded in Shenzhen in 2002 and specializes in anti-counterfeit inks with an annual capacity of nearly 1,000 tonnes. We hold ISO 9001 certification; products meet REACH (EU) and EN71.3 (toy safety) requirements, and we are a member of the radiation-curing branch association. Each batch ships with test data and supports third-party verification.
FAQ
Can samples be sent directly to Indonesia or Vietnam?
Under our delivery policy, samples are delivered to your nominated consolidation point inside China, and your forwarder — or a courier channel we arrange — handles international delivery. Direct international courier is possible with freight collect, aligned with your clearance arrangements.
Does the FOB quotation include freight?
No. The quotation covers the product only (FOB Shenzhen includes local costs to the port); sea freight, insurance and destination duties are for the buyer. Ask your forwarder for the international leg to work out your landed cost.
What is the minimum order quantity?
OVI optically variable ink starts at 1 kg; formulation testing is supported through the small sample policy above.
How do we pay?
Normally by T/T wire transfer, with the prepayment ratio and balance agreed in the contract; USD and CNY settlement are both available.
What is the lead time? Do you provide quality certificates?
Routine orders of stocked color-shift combinations ship 1-2 days after payment. Each batch ships with a test report; MSDS, REACH/EN71.3 statements and third-party testing can be provided on request.
Contact SJH Ink
For Southeast Asian purchasing and agency cooperation: Wang Rui, +86 13510998453, sz_qhy@hotmail.com; website www.sjhink.com (switch to English with ?lang=en). Send your target color shift and packaging samples and we will provide free color-matching and proofing advice.